Fox to produce American ‘Human Tetris’ show

The “human tetris” Japanese game show segment, which became a YouTube hit after Japan Probe posted about about a year ago, will be adapted to American television by Fox:

The network has given a series order to “Hole in the Wall,” the “human Tetris” game show whose foreign incarnations have become a YouTube hit.

In the show, participants contort their bodies to fit precut walls flying toward them on a track. If they don’t fit through shapes, they’re pushed off the track into a pit of water below.

“I think its success is going to be instantaneous,” said Fox entertainment president Mike Darnell, who has picked up 13 hours (which could be divided into 26 half-hours) for next season. “It’s as simple as it gets. It’s one of those shows I think is going to be very addictive. You think, ‘I’m not going to watch this,’ and a half-hour later you’re still watching it.”

Originally launched in Japan in 2006, it now screens in 16 territories, including Australia, Russia and Denmark. Clips of the show have been popular on YouTube, with its videos registering millions of user views each. The franchise is produced by FremantleMedia, the firm behind “American Idol.”

[hat tip to Japanator]